Joan Crawford Biography: Hollywood Star, Films, & Legacy

Before achieving stardom, Lucille Fay LeSueur navigated a challenging path, working as a dancer in nightclubs in Detroit and Chicago, and even as a waitress. It was while working in a bar that an acquaintance led her to an MGM screen test, where she secured a five-year contract. Her iconic stage name, Joan Crawford, was chosen through a contest held by MGM via Movie Weekly magazine. She made her film debut in 1925 in “Pretty Ladies,” playing a showgirl.

Crawford’s career flourished, leading to major successes like “Paid” (1930), “Possessed” (1931), “Grand Hotel” (1932), “Rain” (1932), and the unforgettable psychological thriller “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” (1962), where she famously starred alongside her rival, Bette Davis.

Despite being recognized as one of the greatest actresses of her era, Crawford won only one Academy Award for Best Actress, for her powerful performance in “Mildred Pierce” (1945). She received two additional nominations for “Possessed” and “Sudden Fear.”

After Joan Crawford’s death, her adopted daughter Christina published a tell-all memoir detailing her mother’s alleged cruelty. This controversial book was later adapted into the 1981 film “Mommie Dearest,” starring Faye Dunaway in the titular role, which further cemented Crawford’s complex and often debated legacy.

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Carla Marinho Leal

Writer, traveler and above all, curious about many subjects. She has studied cinema since 2002 and is a Specialist in Cinematographic Studies from UNICAP. Founder of the blog Purviance and the website Cinemaclássico. She loves Charles Chaplin, Raj Kapoor and constantly browses films from all over the world.

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